Process for the manufacture of explosives



- No Drawing.

, un an stares THoMAs HAWKINS, or SLATINGTON,

rem 95m? PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR. or plea-axis r0 CHAUNCEYB. n. REX, or sLArnvorou; PENNSYLVANIA. r I

. rnoc'nss non. TH iviaivnrnorunn or ExrLosrvE-s.

To all whom, it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS HAWKINS, a

subject of the King of England, residing atpreferably agitated during the ensuing re-' action, and when the reaction has ceased or practically ceased, thereactionproducts are mixed with alcohol (preferably ethyl alcohol) and the reaction products are then sep 'arated-, the.solub-le matter from the nsoluble matter, the latter being washed and dried at a moderate temperature.

' In a preferred form of execution of the processes, one ,part by measure of metallic mercury is placed in a suitable receptacle and a mixture made'from 84: parts by measure of fuming nitric acid (gravity 1.5) 12 parts by measure of concentrated sulfuric acid (gravity 1.84) and 14: parts by measure of water, is thenadded to said mercury. The materials in the receptacle are stirred or agitated thoroughly at intervals, and when all of the mercury has been reacted upon and there appears in the liquid a white milky appearance, and the reaction. has

ceased, the temperature is then raised some what, preferably to about 125'F., although I do not restrict myself to this precise temperature. This liquid then poured into another receptacle containing about 80 'to 100 parts of alcohol b-ymeasure. Ethyl alcohol is preferably used. in a relatively pure condition, and this may be. at about ordinary room temperature. The mixture is then allowe'd'to stand for the completion of the ensuing reaction, and the-solution may be agitated from time to time. l/Vhen the reaction has ceased, and the white fumes have ceased to be given off, the whole contents arepoured i into cold water and Washed to remove acid. The liquid is then filtered and may he further washed if desired. It is important that ric acid and actual nitric represented by the proportions abovestatedg,

then dried at a temperature not above the In the above ex-;

boiling point of water. ample, Lhave referred to theuse of fuming nltric acid, concentrated sulfuric acid" and water. It is, of course, understood that acids of dlfferent strengthcan'be employed, jpro-. vlde'd that the total amount of actual sulfu The product of the treatment is in, a much finenstateiof subdivision than is ordinary fulmlnate of mercury made by the ordinary process. The manufacture of the product as above described is also much quicker, much cheaper,*and very much'safer than the ordinary process used in' making vfulminate of mercury. The

product is also much more powerful than. I

fulminate of "mercury;

fact that the process as above describedproe used in producing ,fulmina te of mercury.

The'product is perfectlystable and is not affected bymoisture andclimatic changes and does not deteriorate in storage.

The material produced as'above. described may be used alone as a detonating or ex pl OS1V6' compound, 0 ca.n, if desired, be mixed with the product i I claim with alcohol, separating-the insoluble material from the solution, ren'ioving an acid from thQ'lBSlC lHB and drying the lattenr; v

2. A process which comprises reactingon mercury with a nitricand sulfuric acid. mixsture, reacting on the product with alcohol, separating the solublejmatter in the reaction product from the insoluble matter gtherein, j

and drying the latter in an "acid-free state.

3. A process of making an explosive compound Lwhich comprises-reacting upon; one

volume of metallic mercury with amixture of 84. "Volumesfof 1.5 nitric acid,-12 volumes of 1.84 sulfuric acid and 1% volumes of water, maintaining the materials agitated during the reaction, mixing the] resulting product w th to 100;'volumes of alcohol,

acid is thesame as importantfurther advantage residesjin the V v H 75. duces a. much larger yield of product, than 1: can lie-obta ned 'b-ythe ordinary methods produced in the process of my copend ng application No.

Specification of Lctterslateirt'i Patented Apr. ls $1 9 22" Application filedOctober 29, 1921. Serial No. 511,477. i

v ijoo lot separating the insoluble material from the grained, quicker in its action, safer and more solution removing all acid from the residue stable, than fulminate of mercury, and being and drying the latter. Stable against the action ofmoist airand 4. The herein described product, obtainstable against climatic changes. 5 able by reaction with nitric acid and sulfuric In testimony whereof I have affixed my acid on metallic mercury, and reacting on the signature. product With alcohol, the same being finer THOMAS HAWKINS. 

